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School bus contractor First Student Inc. has named Dave Chappell location manager for the company’s Greensboro, N.C., location. He will oversee all transportation operations, including oversight of safety and maintenance for Guilford County Schools.

“We are pleased to welcome Dave to our team,” said Kerry Mayo, area general manager, First Student. “His wealth of knowledge and experience in the transportation industry will benefit not only our employees, but the school district and students we serve in Guilford County.”

Chappell joins the First Student team with more than 25 years of business experience. He has owned and operated businesses in Greensboro, High Point and Winston Salem. Chappell has spent the last 10 years directly involved with the transportation industry dealing with corporate and public entities.

In other news, First Student has been selected to provide school transportation for the Nebraska panhandle, which consists of Gering and Scottsbluff Public Schools. Officials said this marks the first time the districts have partnered with a transportation provider to supply its busing services. The contract is a four-year agreement beginning with the 2012-13 school year.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to serve the panhandle consortium,” said Phil O’Donnell, First Student area general manager. “First Student is dedicated to forming true partnerships with our school districts, while providing students with the safest and most reliable transportation.”

First Student is in the process of adding additional safety features to the districts’ school buses, which will include cameras to monitor onboard activities, GPS, the Child Check-Mate electronic reminder system and crossing gates to direct children to cross in front of the bus at a safe distance.

“We look forward to working with First Student,” said Don Hague, Gering superintendent. “This partnership will lower costs without compromising safety, allowing the district to focus solely on education rather than transportation.”

“Student safety is our No. 1 priority,” added Rick Myles, Scottsbluff superintendent. “We are confident First Student will deliver the high-quality transportation services we expect, while continuously looking at ways to make the experience even better for our students who ride the bus.”

To support First Student’s relationship with the Nebraska panhandle, the company has hired Harold Stewart as its location manager.

Stewart is retired from the Air Force and has more than 15 years of experience in the communications industry.

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